She began her career modeling in Los Angeles, California, before being cast in uncredited bit parts.

She would have several lead roles before officially retiring from acting following her appearance in John Cassavetes' Big Trouble (1986).

[2] She attended Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington,[5] where she was active in theater and dance,[3] and graduated in 1950.

[2] In 1951, she was one of six finalists in competition for queen of the Home Show and Building Exposition in Los Angeles, California.

In May 1951, Bowe competed in a contest to choose the queen of the sixth annual Home Show and Building Exposition.

[citation needed] In 1951, Bowe traveled with her mother to Los Angeles, California, to see her brother Sidney off to the military during the Korean War.

Her modeling agency was contacted by a high-fashion photographer, Christa, who suggested she pose for national and fashion magazine portraits.

[13] As Ann Dexter, she was featured opposite John Agar in an R.K. Productions release, set in Haiti.

Bowe performed her own stunts on the set,[14] and during filming, she almost drowned, was stung by a sea urchin, and sustained bumps, bruises, and insect bites.

Announced in April 1954, the Makelim plan for producing pictures "guaranteed a flow of film products through a fixed fee system.

"[citation needed] Her later acting roles included appearances in the films Murder on Flight 502 (1977) and Big Trouble (1986), both of which starred her husband Robert Stack, and the TV movie Making of a Male Model (1983).

[citation needed] In October 1969, Bowe was in an automobile accident in Sacramento, California, and sustained serious internal injuries.

Art Lund filed a $750,000 wrongful death suit, alleging Bowe had been driving at an "excessive speed" during the accident.